EOS R7/ RF 100-500mm image stabilizers causing "double vision"

[ASharma]

I have had a bad experience recently with my R7 and RF 100-500mm, which I use mostly for birding. After 18 months, of flawless performance, about 2 months ago, they developed what I call "double vision" with general blurriness. But when pixel peeking, I can clearly see duplication of feather edges, fence posts, and reflected eye beams. When returned to Canon Canada, their computer diagnostics identified a failed image stabilizer chip, which required replacement of the R7 motherboard, a significant repair. Unfortunately, when my gear was returned, the problem was still present despite the new motherboard. This time, I found a fine printed grid to test the lens. It clearly shows splitting of horizontal but not vertical grid lines, with this pattern reversed when switching from landscape to portrait mode. This would suggest a problem with the "pitch-and-yaw" image stabilizers in the lens, or perhaps lens elements that are out of alignment. It may also be a miscommunication between the IS chip in the R7 and the lens optical IS, but I am able to duplicate the splitting with my lens on a friend's R10, which has no IS. Everything is being sent off to Canon Canada for reassessment today, but I find it hard to believe that I had a simultaneous problem in both the R7 motherboard AND the lens optical IS. Has anyone had similar issues?

[ctitanic]

Do you have another lens to test the camera? If you do not get the issue with a different lens most likely the issue was in the lens. Also, have you tried to turn the image stabilization on the lens? (May be too late because you already sent everything to Canon:( ).

I never have heard of anyone reporting this problem before.

[ASharma]

Thanks for the good suggestions. Unfortunately, the splitting only becomes visible at long focal lengths e.g. 400-500 mm, at least given the distances I can test in my yard. You don't see it in shorter focal lengths. Unfortunately, with the R7, the image stabilization switch on the lens barrel controls both the body and lens stabilizers i.e. there is no way to turn them off separately. When I turn them both off, the splitting persists, but only in the "up-down" axis. 

[shadowsports]

Can you submit a sample image with exif data please.

[ASharma]

Happy to. Please note that there is a 5 Mb file size limit, which reduces the resolution somewhat. But you should be able to see the duplication in the reflected eye beam from the hawk's eye, along the top of his head, and along the top of the post (since horizontal lines are more effected than vertical lines). This photo was taken with the stabilization switch on the lens barrel set to "off". 

[ctitanic]

I can't see anything here. Do you have a flickr account? You can post your picture there and post here the link.

[ASharma]

Sorry, I don't have a Flickr account. Does Flickr preserve the full resolution i.e. a 15 Mb JPEG?  I think my usual sites downgrade the resolution automatically e.g. iCloud and Instagram. 

[ctitanic]

Flickr does not have any limitation on resolution or file size, it also preserve the EXIF of the file.

[ASharma]

I am going to try uploading another JPEG, of a high-resolution X-Y grid. Even with reduction to 5Mb, I can see splitting of the horizontal grid lines (when I zoom in). If this doesn't work, thanks for trying. 

[ctitanic]

 I see a ghost line in the vertical lines (top to bottom). I do not see the ghost effect in the horizontal lines.